Finnish Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen has authorised the Finnish Defence Forces to procure GBU-53 Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II) glide bombs from the United States. The bombs will be used with Finland's F-35 combat aircraft.
The Finnish Ministry of Defence states that the SDB II glide bombs complement the air-to-ground armament of the F-35A fleet. According to the ministry, the bomb's characteristics enable precision effects against targets including moving ones at medium range and under adverse weather conditions. The bomb's size allows multiple munitions to be carried simultaneously on a single combat aircraft.
"This procurement complements a previous order as part of the overall F-35 acquisition. It represents a new type of capability that strengthens Finland's defence capability even under demanding conditions. The glide bomb is a technically advanced product that supports the effective use of F-35 materiel as part of the defence system," said Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.
The ministry states that the United States Congress granted an export licence for the Raytheon-manufactured GBU-53 SDB II glide bombs in connection with the HX programme, Finland's fighter procurement programme. The additional acquisition now completed supplements a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) procurement agreement concluded in 2023.
The procurement covers, in addition to the glide bombs themselves, manuals and documentation, spare parts and accessories, transportation services, and training, repair and support services from the manufacturer and supplier, under a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) agreement.